CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
BIANCA
We start to walk inside and I’m smiling. Truly smiling. It’s like I feel free, free of the pain I’ve been carrying for five years. Though as I’m walking, a familiar voice stops me.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the lovebirds.”
I turn around to see Olivia leaning against the wall, a thin vape pen in her hand, and I scoff.
“Goodbye, Olivia,” I say, but as I start to leave, she grabs my hand, pulling me away from Liam. I try to pull back, but she doesn’t let up.
“Hands off,” he says, and she glances at him, then throws my hand back at me.
“Why do you care so much?” she spews. “She’s gonna be my stepsister, so I think I can do what I please.
Besides, we don’t want Daddy to find out about this, do we?
” My eyes widen as I realize how deep Olivia’s contempt for me really runs.
Though, before I can even come up with a response, Liam beats me to it.
“I don’t care. You can tell him whatever your little heart desires, and that won’t change a damn thing.
I’m actually sad that Bianca and Ms. Kate have such shallow, spoiled people in their lives.
But that’s none of my business.” He gets closer to her.
“No matter what your dad says or does, I’ll never let Bianca go.
She’s everything I want, and since the first multiple times weren’t enough: Leave.
Me. Alone.” He emphasizes every word, and my whole body flushes with a pinkish hue as he gently pulls me toward the venue. “You okay?”
We walk through the doors and I nod and squeeze his hand. He squeezes back as we weave through tables, finding ours. I quickly let go of his hand and take my seat, only to see him frowning at me.
“Liam, where have you been?” Ana asks.
“Outside, but I’m sorry for getting here late,” he says.
“No problem, son. No problem at all,” William mumbles, and zeros his gaze in on me while smiling, causing me to look down, trying to avoid his eyes altogether.
“Ms. Kate, how are you?” Liam asks, and Mom makes small talk.
Josh clenches his jaw. “Mr. Callaway, is it?” Liam asks even though he fully knows Josh’s name.
“Nice seeing you again.” Liam looks solely at Mom, and I cover my mouth as I smile.
After the pleasantries, waiters come around with the food, and we get ready to say grace.
I interlink hands with Liam, and he smirks at me while I roll my eyes.
His thumbs rub on the top of my hands as William does the prayer.
His rings create goose bumps, shooting sparks up my arms. We dig in, and Olivia finally joins us, sitting next to Josh.
She says nothing, but she has a face as red as a tomato.
I look over at Liam and he smiles, winking at me.
Olivia looks up at me, and the usual annoyance or displeasure is replaced with pure and utter hatred.
She leans over to Josh, and then he looks at me, anger covering his features.
“So, where did you two sneak off to?” Josh asks, cutting a piece of his rib eye, and I roll my eyes.
“We didn’t sneak off, we were talking outside for a bit,” I voice.
He clears his throat. “Uh-huh, well, I looked out the window down that way and didn’t see either one of you. Try again.” Liam clenches his fist in his lap, and I put my hand on his to calm him down.
Before I can answer, Liam asks, “Why does that bother you, Mr. Callaway?” I shake my head at him.
“It just does.”
“Why’s that, Josh?” William’s looking at him intently. Everyone stops eating and Ana tries to get William’s attention, but he doesn’t look at her. “Why is it bad that Liam was hanging out with Bianca? Do you have a problem with my son?” Ana scolds him, but he doesn’t back down.
“I mean, have you seen your son? I don’t want him corrupting my stepdaughter.” A smug smirk comes on his face as he stretches his neck, almost as if he’s asserting his dominance.
Ana shakes her head. “William, amor, don’t.”
“Josh, how about this? You can leave if you have such a problem with him,” he says, then glances at Mom and me. “You both can stay if you want.”
Josh seethes at that. “The hell they will.”
“Josh!” Mom scolds, and he stands and throws his napkin down. Olivia stands too.
“Would say it was a pleasure, but it wasn’t, and it hasn’t been,” he says angrily, and William waves him off, making me choke on my lemonade. “Kate. Bianca. Time to go.” He starts to walk, but Mom doesn’t move. He looks back, and after a bit, she relents before giving us an apologetic expression.
I don’t move, though.
Josh glances at me in shock. “Bianca? What are you doing?”
“I’m staying here. You guys can go,” I say before he storms out, Mom in hand. I look down.
“Well, that was something,” Ana says after a couple silent minutes.
I put my face in my hands. “Ana, William, I am so sorry. I have no idea what got into him.” But they both wave it off. “And Liam, I’m sorry for what he said to you.”
He shakes his head at that. “It’s okay, Freckles.”
I nod, my face heating up against my will. “Speaking of the argument, so where did you both run off to?” Ana asks and I blush. “I knew it!” I glance at her in confusion, but she looks at us happily. “You’re dating.”
“No, no, no. Ana, you’ve got it all backward,” I rush to say, refusing to look at Liam.
“Nothing like that. Liam and I—we’re just best friends, right?
” I glance in his direction, and something akin to sadness comes over him as his shoulders sag, his confident posture seemingly dropping, and I can only look at him in confusion.
“Right, what she said. Best friends,” he repeats, and I look back at the group, nodding. Ana and William still look at me like they don’t believe us. To be honest, I don’t think I do either, but it has to be this way.
“If you guys say so,” Ana says as she glances between us, and everyone starts to eat once again.
William and Ana start a side conversation, but then someone comes over to steal them both away, leaving Liam and me.
He’s tapping his fork on his plate, lost in thought.
I push against him playfully and he looks at me, smiling weakly.
I look into his forest-green eyes, trying to read him, but they display nothing.
I mean, all I said was the truth: We are best friends, even if my not-so-friendly feelings are currently bubbling up to the surface.
“William!” I yell as he drags Ana and me to the front of the line to dance the Macarena.
To say the least, I have two left feet when it comes to dancing, but even I know that what William is doing is something worse.
He seems to be getting tripped up every so often, and then I glance over at Ana.
She’s got it down to a T, and I burst out in laughter at them.
Her dancing genes definitely did not come to play.
Thankfully, the whole Josh fiasco has been forgotten and everything is the way it should be.
Another familiar shriek later, and now Ana has dragged some other ladies over to dance with her, showing them the moves as rows and rows of people are almost in sync.
I glance around, spot Liam leaning against the bar, and I raise an eyebrow at him.
He smiles at me. Slipping away from the dance party, I walk toward him as he looks me up and down, causing a strong blush to come onto my cheeks.
I cross my arms. “And what are you doing here?”
“Oh, you know. Throwing back shots. Getting drunk. The usual.” His words drip with sarcasm and I roll my eyes as the bartender listens to our exchange.
“He’s not twenty-one, so don’t serve him. Or me, for that matter,” I say, rather embarrassed as I drag Liam from the bar, a groan coming from him.
“Oh no, you’re not taking me to do the Macarena,” he says, stopping us, and I pull at him, but he stands his ground.
I give him my puppy-dog eyes. “Come on, please?” He sighs in exasperation, offering me his arm to drag him once again. Ana squeals when she sees us and I smile at her.
“Okay, dance lesson! Put your hands out, then flip.” I follow her instructions meticulously, and after a few failed attempts, I get it, while Mr. Perfect gets it instantly and he guffaws at me.
“Stop laughing at me!”
“It’s funny!” he retorts. “I wish you could see yourself.”
“Alright, everyone! Loved the coordination. Well, some of you,” the DJ says.
Everyone laughs while Liam and I lock eyes and immediately point to one another.
“Unfortunately, this ball’s coming to an end.
So, thank you all for coming!” Applause breaks out, and some attendees head to their tables to get their things while others start to leave.
“William, Ana, thank you so much for inviting me. Again, I’m so sorry for . . .” I can’t even finish the sentence without the shame eating me up inside.
“Of course, cupcake,” Ana says.
“I’m glad you came, pumpkin,” William says, opening his arms, and I smile at that. I hug him, the sense of comfort William always transfers to me warming me inside and out. We pull back, and I see Liam coming out of the venue, eyes finding mine as always.
“Bud, I’ll see you at home, okay?” Ana murmurs, squeezing his arm before walking away.
“So, tonight was fun,” Liam says, and I look around, not knowing what else to say.
I chuckle. “Yeah, besides the whole—you know.” He drapes his suit jacket over my shoulders.
“I’m glad we had it,” he responds.
I nod, mumbling a small, “Me too.”
“Want me to drive y—” he starts to ask.
A black sedan with a rideshare logo pulls up and the driver rolls down the window, interrupting him.
A woman with shoulder-length, curly hair smiles.
“Looking for a Bianca Harrison?” I wave, then my phone buzzes with Josh saying he sent someone to pick me up because Mom was busy with something.
I sigh nervously as I have no idea how this woman drives, and Liam unfortunately picks up on my unease.
I turn back, holding up a finger, and she nods.
The window rolls back up as I come face-to-face with Liam once again.
“I can go with you, if you want,” he instantly says, and I smile at the suggestion, but shake my head.
“I’ll be okay.”
He nods, resigned. “Good night, Freckles,” he whispers, his lips pressing against my forehead. I look up, his face mere inches away. I raise onto my tiptoes, pecking his cheek, and pull back to see a pained expression.
“Night, Liam.”
I start to take off his jacket before he stops me.
“Keep it. Maybe it’ll help ease your nerves a little.
” My heart stutters at how sweet he, and the gesture, is.
I nod and grip it tighter, the scent of his cologne enveloping me.
I turn, walking toward the car. I open the door, but before climbing in, I look back to see him giving me that sweet smile, his hands in his pockets.
Looking handsome as ever in his black long sleeve and tie that he conveniently matched with my dress.
Shutting the door, I look out the window as the driver pulls out of the parking lot slowly, leaving Liam in the rearview.